PSLA
TITLES FOR 2005 NONFICTION
Another volume in the Current Controversies series,
Aldrich, Lisa J.
Nikola Tesla and the Taming of
Electricity.
1-931798-46-X. 160p.
$30.00. Gr. 7-11.
Nikola Tesla was a bright
child who loved animals, was not comfortable around people, loved to invent
things (just like his mother) and had tremendous will power. His life is well researched and interesting.
Tesla’s life was made up of significant inventions and patents. His superior
knowledge of electricity did not always work in his favor and he encountered
lifelong financial difficulties due to reneged promises made by others. One
example is when Thomas Edison agreed to pay him $50,000 if Tesla was able to
redesign dynamos. After a year Tesla finished
and when he asked for payment,
Allen, Carter. And the Sky Turned White… Candlelight Press, 2005. 0-9766053-0-9. 108p.
$9.95. Gr. 10+.
A graphic novel that tells
the tale of a lone scientist who sees that planets are disappearing and does
not know what to do. The drawings are
well done and convey the story. Students who like this kind of genre will enjoy
this book.
Donna
Darmofal
Allman, Toney. J.
Robert Oppenheimer.
This readable and engaging
biography of Oppenheimer, the Father of the Atomic Bomb, will interest younger
readers. The events of his life are covered:
his privileged youth, his attraction to the Communist party, his work on the
Atomic Bomb, his fall from favor and the eventual rehabilitation of his
reputation. Of interest are his opinions
on the use of the atom bomb. Page layout
is inviting, with photographs, diagrams and text excerpts. Includes a Table of
Contents, a timeline, a glossary and an Index. Some students may have
difficulty with the small font. Also reviewed in the Giants of Science
series: Nicolaus Copernicus (1-56711-489-X). Biography. Rosanne Zajko
Armstrong, Jennifer. Photo by Brady: A Picture of the Civil War.
147p. $18.95.
Gr. 6-9.
Mathew Brady and his staff brought the
battlefield into the homes of Americans for the first time. Although his
pictures were not “live” action, they nevertheless made an impression on the
American public. Brady’s vision and coordination of the effort was both
entrepreneurial and a service to our country. Brady did not take all the
pictures, but rather hired men to take pictures. The art of photography
was at the beginning stages and the photographer was at the mercy of the
elements. Pictures were often staged because of conditions as well as for
effect. Armstrong uses Brady’s work to illustrate this book on the Civil
War. Her story is very dynamic and moves right along. The pictures,
some a bit unsettling, make the story even more real. Today’s readers, use to more colorful graphic
documentation of the world’s events, will appreciate Brady’s groundwork in
photojournalism. Jeannie Bellavance
Ashby, Ruth. James
and Dolley Madison.
Gr.
5-9.
An interesting approach to presidential
biographies, this title in the series Presidents and First Ladies discusses
the intertwined lives of the President and the First Lady. There is equal emphasis on presidential
politics and the personal relationship between James and Dolley Madison. The facts are presented conversationally,
which is inviting to students reading for research and for pleasure. The layout
is attractive, with each chapter highlighted on a sepia page. Color and black and white reproductions are
plentiful. Includes a glossary,
resources for further research, an Index and a Table of Contents. A good
addition to libraries needing a less academic biography.
Also reviewed: Woodrow and Edith Wilson (0-8368-5759-3)
and Bill and Hilary Rodham Clinton (0-8368-5756-9)
Biographies. Rosanne
Zajko
Atkins, Jeannine. How
High Can We Climb?
$17.00. Gr. 7-12.
Twelve women explorers are
profiled in this book in an easy-to-read, story-type format. Information on
each woman is presented as an overview of her life, with emphasis on her
exploits. This is much-needed information for students studying the lives of
these women. Biography.
Nancy
Chrismer
Bankston, John. Karl Benz.
Part of the Uncharted,
Unexplored and Unexplained series, this title provides an accessible and
factual look at Karl Benz, the inventor of the two stroke internal combustion
engine and the patent holder for the first car using an internal combustion
engine. FYI pages provide information on Benz’s contemporaries and on world
events. Color illustrations and photos are well placed. Includes a chronology,
a discovery timeline, glossary, chapter notes and further reading suggestions.
A diagram of how the engine works would have been helpful and the font used is
small and a bit difficult to read. Also part of the same series: Dmitri Mendeleyev (Zannos – 1-58415-267-2)
and Gregor Mendel ( Bankston – 1-58415-266-4) Mendeleyev includes the Periodic Table of
the Elements and a discussion of new elements. Mendel discusses the
obstacles to his research and the foundation he laid for future geneticists.
All three integrate the personalities and characteristics of the inventors and
scientists with their work and briefly discuss how their contributions affect
us today. Biography.
Rosanne
Zajko
Bardhan-Quallen, Sudipta. Championship Science Fair Projects. NY:
208p. $19.95.
Gr. 5-8.
Bardhan-Quallen
presents 100 science projects that can easily be done with easily found
materials. Each project starts with a list
of materials and then tells the steps to follow. The results one should notice and an
explanation of what’s happening to cause the results the young science fair
participant achieves are also noted. I
wish I had this book when my nephew was required to participate in his school’s
Science Fair. Sandra Krieg
Bartoletti,
Susan Campbell. Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler’s Shadow.
0-439-35379-3. 176p.
$19.95. Gr. 7-12.
An award-winning author tells
the story of children growing up in
Bartoletti, Susan Campbell. Hitler
Youth: Growing Up in Hitler’s Shadow.
0-439-35379-3. 176p.
$19.95. Gr. 7-12.
Bartoletti, in her Newberry
award winning book, Hitler Youth
deftly answers that troubling question, “How could so many young people follow
such an evil dictator?” By using personal stories, she describes how the Hitler
propaganda machine captivated the minds of young people. The Nazis focused on the impressionable youth
in order to solidify their cause and used things that the teens enjoyed doing
such as camping and sports activities. By giving their histories, the now older
adults described both the Nazi rallies and also the devastation caused to the
Jewish people. They also revealed the confusion that they felt when they
witnessed terrible acts done to their neighbors that they could not understand
but were told that it was done for the good of the “Fatherland.” The actual
photographs of the young people make the reality of their stories more
immediate. This book will give students insight into how governments use
propaganda to further their causes. Also included are an epilogue about the
storytellers, a timeline, author’s notes, photography, quote sources, an
extensive bibliography and index. A must
for all high school collections. Holocaust, Jewish, World War II, Socialism.
Susan Mowery
Baseball,
the Perfect Game: An All-Star Anthology Celebrating the Game’s Greatest
Players, Teams, and Moments.
Leventhal,
Josh, Ed.
This
beautiful coffee table volume, tours the
150-year history of the game through nearly thirty essays on the game’s players
and great moments written by writers, historians, poets, politicians, and
artists. Essays cover such topics
as: the rivalry between the Yankees and
the Red Sox, the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers, Satchel Paige, Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa,
The essays will be of great interest to both serious fans and baseball
researchers. Joyce
Valenza
Becker, Helaine. Are You Psychic?: The Official Guide for
Kids.
64p.
$16.95. Gr. 4-7.
Becker has created a
fun-filled resource to test your psychic abilities. Mind reading, fortune
telling, and scrying are just a few of the activities
for readers to try. Whether for sleepover entertainment or for serious
scientific investigation, these simple experiments are sure to please. Elizabeth
McChesney
Behnke, Alison. Cooking
the Middle Eastern Way.
$25.26. Gr.
6+.
Cooking tips,
terminology and a cooking conversion chart follows an introduction to the
history, land and cultures of the
Biesty, Stephen.
Gr. 5-10.
Entertaining and informative,
this oversized book includes detailed cross-section drawings of nine important
Ancient Egyptian sites in the context of an Egyptian boy traveling up the
What Bissinger did for
small-town
Pat Naismith
Blacklock, Dyan.
The Roman Army: The Legendary
Soldiers who Created an Empire.
2004. 0-8027-8897-1. 48p.
$18.85. Gr. 3-12.
Presents a thorough
description of the Roman Army from everyday life to weaponry. Text is brief and
to the point. Illustrations by David Kennett are detailed and abundant. A must
have for Ancient Rome research. I love this book for middle school, but the
detail will make it equally useful in a high school, and illustrations will
make it appealing to the elementary grades. Michelle Stone
Bodanis, David.
Electric Universe: The Shocking
True Story of Electricity.
1-4000-4550-9. 308 p.
$24.00. Gr. 8+.
The author of best seller E=mc², tells two centuries worth of
stories, that present a
clear, illuminating, and entertaining scientific history of a force most of us
take for granted. From
Bohannon, Lisa Frederiksen. Freedom
Cannot Rest: Ella Baker and the Civil Rights Movement.
Morgan
Reynolds Publishing, 2005.
13-978-1-931798-71-6. 176p. $30.
Gr. 7-12.
I loved this biography about
Ella Baker. She worked tirelessly for
the Civil Rights movement during a tumultuous time in the 1960s. She advocated helping people help themselves
through nonviolent direct action. She was a force to be reckoned with, both
respected and revered, yet hampered by a time in history that didn’t recognize
women’s contributions, much less the fight for African Americans civil
rights. She was the tireless leader who
was brought in to form and head Student
Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). In SNCC women played an equal
role in the organization thanks to Baker’s example. Baker’s participation in
countless organizations, campaigns and alliances gave the world an example of
wisdom that helped propel the civil rights movement forward and the “power one
individual has to effect change.” Timeline, web sites and index are very
helpful. A must have for middle and high
school libraries. Nonfiction/Biography. B.J.
Neary
Publishing,
2005. 1-931798-42-7. 128p. $21.95.
Gr. 7-12.
Excellent book that gives the
life story of popular
Bradberry, Sarah.
Kids Knit!
This beginner’s knitting book
is attractive and easy to follow. Each of the tools needed for knitting are
explained before the actual knitting begins. New terminology and techniques are
defined before they are used in a project.
Step by step instructions are written and diagramed. Instructions for
twenty projects are included. Michelle Stone
Brager, Bruce L.
There He Stands: The Story of
Stonewall Jackson.
Inc.,
2005. 1-931798-44-3. 176p.
$30.00. Gr. 6-10.
Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson
is brought to life as an extremely focused soldier and general whose zeal as a
commander often irritated his soldiers and counterparts but earned him the
solid reputation of a fearless leader who inspired morale and victory.
Although this is a story about the entire Curie family, the narrative
focuses on the strong women who changed the face of modern science, not without
their share of scandal. Marie and Irene
both won the Nobel Prize with their husbands, and excelled in the
male-dominated world of physical science.
Eve, a war correspondent, wrote a brilliant biography of her
mother. Brian, who also wrote Einstein: A Life, follows the Curies through until 2004 (Eve was
still living) and gains rare insight into their lives and loves. Biography. Pat Naismith
Caldwell, Michaela. The Girls’ Yoga Book: Stretch Your Body, Open Your Mind, & Have
Fun!
Maple Tree Press, 2005. 1-897066-25-2. 64p.
$9.95. Gr. 5-8.
This colorful paper back
guides beginners through the yoga basics, including the health benefits,
history, poses, and terminology. Each pose is illustrated and explained.
Connections are made to a healthy lifestyle, developing self awareness, and
journaling. An index is included. Michelle Stone
Caldwell, Ben. Fantasy! Cartooning.
This comprehensive drawing
book will inspire students to turn their sketches into graphic novels. Pencil
sketches illustrate the different characters and objects important in fantasy
with suggestions and tips to improve the reader’s drawings and understanding of
the fantasy genre. An index and cartooning web site address are included. Michelle Stone
Carroll, Lewis. Jabberwocky.
Carroll’s nonsense poem Jabberwocky receives an interpretative treatment
through Stephane Jorisch’s inventive illustrations. Jorisch contrasts Carroll’s
portmanteau (words with two meanings) with the modern day nonsense spoken by
the media and politicians. The
illustrations are futuristic and have a sense of foreboding, inviting the
reader to ponder the connections between the illustrations and the verse. Poetry. Rosanne Zajko
Carroll, Will. The
Juice: the Real Story of Baseball’s Drug Problem.
1-56663-668-X. 256p. $24.00. Adult.
A must read for high school
athletes who may have a romantic view
of performance enhancing drugs, also
know as PED’s. The author takes pains to give a realistic picture of the complexities
of the issue. Although these substances are illegal, they are easily gotten as
is the case with so many other drugs. The author believes that this in not just
a “sports” problem, but a “social issue.” The book includes testimonials and
chapters done by other experts. In general it is a comfortable high school
level read, although the subject matter may leave one queasy. A parent can only
hope.
Ilene
Goldis
Chandonnet, Ann.
$16.10. Gr. YA.
Wonderful color photos, site maps, walking tours for
specific towns and suggestions for brief or longer excursions make this a great
book for student travel assignments.
Better still the author, who’s lived in
Cohen, Harlan. The Naked Roommate: and 107 Other Issues You
Might Run Into in College. New
This
title is catchy and the information is well organized. The whole work is fairly comprehensive in its
approach and Mr. Cohen has obviously done his research. While there are no groundbreaking tips which
must absolutely adhered to, the book is a quick read because of Mr. Cohen’s
above average sense of humor. Ed Cosgrove, Guidance Counselor,
Collard,
Sneed B.,
The
book describes the reconstruction of a tall grass prairie located near
Colleges With
a Conscience: 81 Great Schools With Outstanding Community Involvement. New
As with
all Princeton Review rankings or listings, they are on the surface very
helpful. They are especially useful for
busy students looking to narrow a list of schools with the catch-phrase
“community involvement” attached to that school. This book meets its intended
purpose. But as with all list books, the
fact that a school does not appear does not mean that they do not have said
specialty.
Comic Books. David M. Haugen, Ed.
This volume is part of the Examining PopCulture series, Comic Books looks
at the role of comic books as a mirror of society and its customs during the
times when they were written. Following
an introduction of the origins and changes of the comic book history, the first
chapter explores the defining elements of comic books such as the superhero.
Chapter 2 investigates comic books as a reflection of cultural values with
scholarly essays on comics during World War II, counterculture comics and the
1960s counterculture and the advent of women and African American superheroes.
Chapter 3 looks at the current trends of manga and graphic novels. Books and
internet resources are provided with an index. Interesting reading for the
comic book expert and the student exploring comics as a part of popular
culture. B.J. Neary
Couteuier, Lisa.
The Hopes of Snakes: and Other Tales from the Urban Landscape.
0-8070-8565-0. 159p.
$19.55. Gr. 10 +.
The essayist
writes of her memories and explorations of nature and of the necessity of
wildlife in people’s lives. Her observations of nature in the city in the
Northeast, observing the behaviors of wild animals and the niche they find in
the eco-culture make this a welcome addition to a nature collection. Wildlife. Candy Blessing
Crawford, Brad.
This
well-designed and beautifully illustrated book will be useful in many ways. The
book presents a very complete overview of the state of Ohio, including history,
maps, important places and people, sites to visit throughout the state, and
much more. Organized by region, the information will be useful to the traveler
as well as the researcher, and includes an excellent index, lists of events,
and practical information. History/Travel Guidebook. Nancy Chrismer
Croke, Vicki. The Lady and The Panda: The True Adventures
of the First American Explorer to Bring
Back
Most
Exotic Animal.
The story of Ruth Harkness,
the
Croke, Vicki Constantine. The
Lady and the Panda: The True Adventures of the First American Explorer to Bring
Back
This is the remarkable story
of the first giant panda to be brought to the
D’Amico, Joan and Karen Eich Drummond. The Coming to
and Fascinating Stories from
2005. 0-471-48335-4. 180p. $14.95.
Gr. 5+.
This is
a wonderful introduction to basic cooking. The book explains usage of cooking
tools and equipment, as well as cooking skills like chop, dice, mince, boil, steam
and simmer. In addition, the book provides easy international recipes with
brief historical and cultural information about the country from which the
recipes originate. Gail
Gaines, SRMS Library Secretary
Davies, Christopher.
Divided By a Common Language.
$14.95.
YA.
This guide offers a unique
look at the differences in the customs and language of the
Davis, Sampson, M.D., Dr. George Jenkins, and Dr.
Rameck Hunt with Sharon Draper. We
Beat the Street: How a Friendship Pact Led to Success.
We Beat the Street, Sharon Draper’s adaptation of the Three Doctors’ adult
book The Pact, features inspiring and engaging anecdotes
from the doctors’ childhood, high school and medical school years. The chronologically arranged chapters are
followed by “conversations” with each chapter’s featured doctor. These conversations serve to provide
additional and concluding words on the life lesson, character trait, success or
failure that was the subject of the preceding chapter. A must read for one who needs a motivational
push to follow his or her goals and dreams, as well as one who doubts the power
of positive peer pressure and true friendship. B.
J. Neary
Dean,
Arlan. Samurai: Warlords of
This
is a short book that gives a good background on the history of the samurai
warrior. Armor, weapons, philosophy and
the hierarchy of the samurai are explained. (It is also mentioned that women
had important roles as members of the samurai class). The book includes many colorful illustrations
(many drawn from historical sources), a Glossary, Further Reading, Resources,
and an index. Constance
Roupp
Deem, James. Bodies from the Ash: Life and Death in
Ancient
0-618-47308-4. 50p.
$16. Gr. 6-8.
Deem has compiled historical
data, photos, and personal site visits, to tell the story of the Vesuvius
eruption that destroyed
Deem, James M.
Bodies from the Ash: Life and
death in Ancient
0-618-47308-4. 50p.
$16.00. Gr. 7+.
A timed account of the
eruption of
Delise, Guy.
1896597890. 176p.
$19.95. Gr. 9+.
This
graphic memoir is the work of French-Canadian
cartoonist Delisle who documents his two-month trip to
Dendy, Leslie and Mel Boring. Guinea Pig Scientists: Bold
Self-Experimenters in Science and Medicine.
Henry
Holt, 2005. 0-8050-7316-7.
207p. $19.95. Gr. 5+.
Here are exciting and revealing stories of
some of the brave scientists who literally risked their own lives for the advancement
of science and safety. Some are well known such as Marie
Curie. Others will be new to the reader. For example Jesse Lazear
died trying to show the spread of yellow fever was through mosquito bites and
John Paul Stapp personally tested speeds that a body could endure, leading to
understanding of how gravity affect pilots and astronauts . Readers will be
amazed at the sacrifices that were made to further our knowledge. This is well
written and makes very interesting reading. There is enough biographical
information and meticulous notes on sources that can lead a student on to
further information about these topics. Jeannie Bellavance
Devlin, Jared. The
Math Instinct: Why You’re a Mathematical Genius (Along with Lobster, Birds,
Cats, and Dogs).
This
is an interesting read about the mathematical designs and abilities found in
nature, from a dog catching a ball or Frisbee in the most efficient way to the constructional
designs of bees, the patterns in plants, and the navigational abilities of
lobsters, desert ants, whales and bats.
The author’s strong background in mathematics and language enables him
to see and explain simply the complex natural (unconscious) mathematical
calculations behind these phenomena. The text is supplemented by footnotes,
bibliography, index, and very helpful illustrations. The writing style makes
this an enjoyable book to read rather than a math text. Popular
Mathematics. Eleanor Howe
Diamond, Jared. Collapse: How Societies Choose to
Fail or Succeed.
$29.95. Gr. 10-Adult.
Following his Pultizer Prize
winning Guns, Germs, and Steel, which examined the rise of civilizations,
Diamond turns in Collapse to the question of why civilizations fall, a
currently relevant question that ultimately faces all human societies. He
examines and describes ancient cultures (Easter Island, Maya, Anasazi), a
Medieval society (Vikings), and modern political units (Montana, Rwanda, Haiti,
the Dominican Republic, Australia), topics that can be of value to students
studying both historical and current world cultures. His goal is to draw
conclusions about the factors present in all these examples of decline and
collapse (i.e., fragile environments, economic interdependence, political
control, demographics, and social values) and relate them to present global
issues and conditions. The result is a book that every high school student and
citizen should read and seriously consider. The well-written and accessible
text is accompanied by illustrations, maps, a bibliographical essay for each
chapter, and a thorough index but no source notes for the information
presented. Cultural Anthropology.
Social History. Eleanor Howe
Duggleby, John.
Uh Huh! : The Story of Ray
Charles.
13-978-1-931798-65-5. 160p.
$30. Gr. 7-10.
This is a compelling, and
thoroughly enjoyable biography about singer, Ray Charles. There are many instances of Charles doing
things his way, “being true to myself and being true to the music.” Ray Charles
may have been born to a poor, unwed mother but he was lovingly raised and, early
on, spent his time at a café listening to the piano and music of the 1930s.
Charles’ life is chronicled with interviews, photographs and honesty about his
enduring musical genius, addictions and marital infidelities. A must have
addition to any library. Nonfiction/Biography. B.J. Neary
Ebersole, Rene.
0-531-16779-8. 118p.
$31.00. Gr. 5-9.
Amy Vedder is an amazing
woman. From the beginning of her biologist career as a member of the Peace
Corps in 1973 to her appointment as a program director for the Wildlife
Conservation Society in 1999, Amy never lost sight of her objective—to preserve
and protect wildlife. Neither the brutal murder of Dian Fossey nor the
guerrilla wars in
Eisner, Will. The Plot: The Secret Story of the Protocols
of the Elders of
0-393-06045-4. 148p.
$19.95. Gr. 10+.
Published
posthumously, famous cartoonist Eisner’s
final graphic work explores the unfortunate history of The Protocols of the
Elders of Zion. The Protocols, a forged and plagiarized work of anti-Semitic
propaganda, continued to reappear over the past century, despite overwhelming
evidence of its falsity. Eisner’s black and white drawings keenly portray
historical events and the humans behind them.
A core section compares the plagiarized work with passages from its
original source, the satirical essay--Maurice Joly's Dialogue in Hell,
which compared
Epidemics. Williams,
Mary Ed.
Part of the Opposing Viewpoints Series, Epidemics
looks at the significant and growing problem of infectious disease in the
Evolution. Naff, Clay Farris Ed.
Evolution is
one title in the Exploring Science and
Medical Discoveries series by Thomson Gale.
The articles handles some contemporary controversies and presents
several viewpoints from well known and respected scientists on both sides of
the evolution theory. The foreword uses
the example of stem cell research and how it has generated tension between
science and the public. Hailed as one of
the most important advancements in medicine, stem cell research is also very
controversial. This series explores the
history of a medical or scientific discovery, investigates society’s reaction
to the breakthrough, and explores potential new applications and avenues of research.
Chapters are: Origins of a Theory, The Modern Theory, Contemporary
Controversies and New Currents in Evolution. Includes a Chronology, Books,
Periodicals and Websites and an index. B.J.
Neary
Extremist Groups. Balkin, Karen F. Ed.
An updated volume of the Opposing Viewpoints series, Extremist Groups has an introduction about how extremist groups use
the internet to spread the word of hate. Extremist web sites “are all designed
to attract young people to the hate movement.”
Extremist groups “often push the limits of the law, earning them the
scrutiny of law enforcement, politicians, the media and countless social
commentators.” The PLO, Al Qaeda and
Basque Separatists topics are explored.
Four chapters debate the many issues of how extremist groups affect our
society: Are Some Religious Groups Harmful? Do Some Liberal Groups Benefit
Society? Do White Supremacist Groups Pose a Threat Worldwide? What Extremist
Groups Pose a Threat Worldwide? Each Chapter
contains a Preface and Periodical Bibliography. There are questions for further
discussion, Organizations to Contact, and an Index. B.J.
Neary
Farrell, Jeanette. Invisible
Allies: Microbes That Shape Our Lives.
0-374-33608-3. 165p.
$17.00. Gr. 6+.
Farrell's Invisible Enemies (1998) presented disease-causing microbes, this engaging companion book presents how those microbes enhance our lives. Farrell examines the historical significance of using microbes to preserve and produce foods (cheese, chocolate, and bread) and the importance of microbes on bodily functions—to digest meals and to decompose it. The last